YAY! I got my first two followers That is a big deal for me so thakyou soo much Forest Dreamer and lilylouise95 this chapter is dedicated to you guys!
Chapter 2
Marian had only taken a few steps into the forest, when she noticed a broken arrow. The arrow had been broken in half, perhaps out of frustration or accidentally by its owner. Marian thought the owner wise for breaking the weapon since this arrow was clearly not balanced. The arrow head was slightly bigger and probably heavier than the piece of wood that held the head in place.
Marian ignored the broken thing and continued walking. So there were other people here, she already knew that outlaws had been seen lurking in the forest. Marian headed for her secret destination. A place no one knew about except her and she hoped it remained that way.
The sound of falling water rose above the shield of the trees as she drew closer to her secret haven. She smiled in delight as she saw the falls come into view. It felt like only yesterday she was here, discovering the cave behind the water fall. Marian spun around, trying to find concealed faces behind all the greenery of the forest. Finding none, the young Fritzwalter procceded to one side of the waterfall, easily getting inside the cave behind it. Marian had found this place when she first snuck out to the forest, when she was but six. At her first sight of the falls she noticed that one of the edges curved, as if presenting the mouth of a cave. So thats how Marian came to know this place. This was her territory,she didn't care if the forest was not fully hers, as long as this particular place remained a secret to the rest of the world. Sadly this was not the case.
True, Marian had scanned the greenery of the forest for any followers just in case, But she didn't scan the highest branches at all. There perched in a high branch a boy a year older than Marian, frowned at the sight of her.
Marian felt safe in the cave's shelter, but this was just part of her territory. At the end of the cave there was a clearing . The only things in the clearing were three great oak trees and a dozen berry bushes. Marian was greatly overjoyed in seeing this place again, that was until she noticed a small brown pouch and a bow and arrow lying in between the "V" that formed on the largest oak's roots.
Before she could even look around for its owner she felt a hand covering her mouth. What an outrage! Marian thought. Did whoever this hand belongs too think that I would scream! I was just scanning the area for the owner of the pouch and bow and arrows for god's sake! Im not that sissy!
Her captor was still covering her mouth. By the look of the hand, it belonged to a boy. Then she felt a hand searching the left pocket of her brown pants. This was when Marian remembered the hatchet. She quickly reached the hatchet before her captor started searching on her right pocket. What a stupid thing to do, Marian thought, covering the prisoner's mouth but not securing her hands! Marian by force then swung around,her elbow hitting her captor. Marian had trained herself more than enough in bare fights and swords when she escaped to Sherwood in the past years. Marian then turned swiftly around once she was sure she had taken her captor aback a few steps. At this sharp movement her caramel colored hair loosened inside her black hood.
Marian glanced at her captor. A boy of nine stared back at her. The first things she noticed about him was his reddish brown hair and immensely blue eyes. Marian stared deeply into his eyes. They reminded her of the sky. She snapped out of her trance and quickly looked at the boy's surrounding area to see if he had any weapons within reach. Thankfully there weren't any, but no one would come to the woods unarmed unless they knew how to use their fists. Marian deduced that the pouch and bow and arrows were his. Marian... was correct.
IOI
Robin of Lockesley, the Earl of Locksley's son was happily hunting illegally at King Richard's forest. Robin was sure King Richard wouldn't mind besides he was just hunting birds. It wouldn't even count a crime considering the fact that he had missed every damn time. Robin stomped at one of his arrows,FRUSTRATED, breaking it in half. Maybe I need a break,he thought. Robin headed for the cave behind the waterfall.
Robin had found it a year ago when he had been chased by a gang of outlaws one spring morning with his friend Will Scarlett. Robin saw the waterfall and thought that they would be well hidden behind the smoke like effect that came with falling water. Robin thought there was enough space behind the water fall to conceal them from the outlaws, yet he didn't think that there would be a cave behind it!
But anyway there was a cave and just when he needed it the most. Robin also found out that the cave lead to a clearing that no one can access easily unless using the cave behind the waterfall and Will had discovered that behind the shrubs and bushes was a small clear lake.
They had both searched the clearing for signs of inhabitants, knowing it was to good to be true to find the perfect place for an outlaw camp to be inhabited. There was shelter under the three giant oak's branches, food from the dozen berry bushes and fresh Water from the small lake and the best part was that it was out of sight and not easily accessed! After an hour of searching they found nothing that proved that the clearing was inhabited. Smiling to each other the duo claimed the clearing.
Robin reached the clearing behind the waterfall and let out a tired sigh while he dropped his bow and arrows on the "V" the largest oak tree in the clearing provided. He took out a ripe apple from his pouch and counted his arrows, while eating the apple. Eleven...twelve...thirteen...Fourteen!.He nearly choked on his apple. He had Fourteen left out of the twenty arrows he had came with to Sherwood! He tried remembering how he had lost the six arrows to see if any of them could be salvaged, it would be a waste of quality arrows
He remembered he tried shooting a pigeon and horribly missed, the arrow fell on a tall pine with no branches to aid the climber, the pine was impossible to climb,for a nine year old boy that is. Robin remembered he lost three arrows when he pursued a large hawk, he had hit the hawk with the first arrow on its leg, but the hawk reflected the other two arrows to a small river, the current has probably swept the arrows away by now. The fifth arrow he lost when he dropped it and a wild wolf took it, probably had mistaken it for a bone. Stupid mutt! Robin thought. Then there was that other arrow.
Robin remembered that one clearly since it only happened a few minutes ago and was the only arrow he had personally destroyed. Who could blame him? He was just so frustrated for not killing anything!
"That one I broke in half" Robin thought out loud "It could be mended with a few drops of tree sap" The lad quickly shoved the remains of the apple in the pouch then he headed off to where the broken arrow was
Up ahead the young boy saw his twisted, sad arrow and ran to it as fast as he could, it was midday after all. Robin's back was stinging from the summer sun's heat that leaked though the leaves, he wanted to be back under the ginormous oak's shadow. He was just about bending down to take the arrow when he saw a piece of black and brown. Then a hooded figure came to view. Robin panicked, It was foolish of him to have left his bow and arrows in the clearing. Quick as lightning, the distraught boy charged up to the nearest tree, climbing as fast as he could. If the hooded figure was an outlaw, and hopefully the only one around, he might have a chance. But if there were others it was possible he would die today. Robin smiled at the thought of dying on a tree. It was too stupid for him to die on top of this piece of living wood.
Robin craned his neck to get another glimpse of the figure.
This time he saw that it was too short to be an outlaw or even a fighter. He deduced the hooded figure was a boy but he wasn't so sure. If it was a boy then he must have been considered a runt. Robin couldn't see his face but he got a good view of his body. Skinny arms and enclosed shoulders...he's a weakling, Robin thought. The hooded figure then passed by the tree Robin had ridiculed his demise upon, and the lad finally saw where this specter was headed but why? A sip of water? A bath?
The boy was heading to the direction of the waterfall.
IOI
The hooded lad had made his way to the waterfall, the place Robin and Will had claimed for themselves. Young Robin was now on a different tree and had well decided to spy on the mysterious hooded boy, interested of knowing his business here. As if scanning the area for followers, the hooded figure looked around him. Robin didn't breath and closed his eyes, afraid to be discovered. It took two minutes for the hooded boy to be satisfied, then he approached the side of the waterfall where the water would only sprinkle your hair, it was the most convenient place to enter the cave. Robin got down from the tree while cursing at himself for closing his eyes like a stupid chicken of sorts. Had he not close his eyes, he could have had a glance at the hooded boy's face or maybe knew where he went! It doesn't matter, Robin thought he probably got a sip of water then went on his way.
"I curse that hooded boy!" Robin frowned as he cursed at the boy in a whisper. "I didn't even retrieve my arrow! Never mind" Robin scowled "i'll pass by it on the way home!"
The young boy had just entered the cave, when he saw a shadow ahead of him. The shadow was at the other end of the cave and was just standing there. At first, Robin thought it was just his eyes getting used to the darkness of the cave, but when he was in front of the object that made the shadow he covered his mouth to muffle his gasps. There before him was the little, skinny armed, hooded boy.
Robin didn't know what to do. How did this boy even know about this place? He and Will made an oath, never to say anything about this place unless it was completely necessary. That idiot-good for nothing cousin! Robin thought. He would have thought of more curses and horrible things he would do to Will if the boy hadn't moved. The hooded boy was now looking around scanning the area for something. Robin was confused what was he looking for? Then it came to him.
MY BOW AND ARROWS! He's looking for the me,the owner! Just after the thought , the boy began to turn his head towards Robin's direction.
The frantic boy's first instinct was to insure that the boy wasn't armed. Robin covered the hooded boy's mouth with his right hand so he wouldn't scream, and with his left he searched his pockets. He found nothing in the left pocket and was about to start with the right pocket when he was pushed away with great force, then Robin felt the skinny boy's elbo smash into his face! Robin stared up at the boy ,his blue eyes were met by hazel brown ones. What a weird looking boy. Robin wasn't even sure he was looking at a boy, considering the fact that strands of long hair were visible near his black hood.
So now here they were. Staring at each other, wondering why the other was there and how they had known about this secret place. Marian still clutching her hatchet began to raise it slowly, just to frighten her attacker. Robin saw this and began to laugh, was the boy afraid of him or was he too weak to raise the hatchet. Marian was surprised by her captor's laughter but didn't speak ,afraid her voice might give her away. Marian glanced at her belongings,she had dropped her books and pouch by the cave wall after being taken by surprise when the boy covered her mouth. Now, Marian quickly grabbed her favorite book which was the heaviest and largest of the three and threw it at the boy. Robin unsuspecting, kept on laughing that is, until the hardcover of the book smashed into his face. Robin took three steps back from the impact and leaned on the cave wall the book fell on the cave floor, the sound of the heavy mass of pages hitting the cave floor echoing.
"That hurt you know" Robin managed to say ,whilst covering his face and fighting back the curses that filled his head. Well you only deserve it! Marian thought. Marian could no longer hold her urge to speak, but she also didn't want to be found out. She thought about her mimic of Herdreth's voice, it sounded pretty believable so why not try?She was going to get discovered sooner or later anyway.
" Is that so my good sir? Well then I am glad to know that you have gotten what you have deserved! Marian said in a precise mimic of her captor's voice. Robin stared astonished, at the hooded boy, having just heard his very own voice come out of the boy's mouth.
Marian then gave her attacker a sly smile, she was going to have fun with this. But before she could, Robin leaned forward ,separating from the cave wall. He had to know who this boy was! Marian's fear returned when her attacker seemed to have recovered from his injury and shock. Marian didn't know what to do, she still had the hatchet Herdreth had given her in her right hand but wasn't sure if she wanted to hurt the boy. Then without thinking Marian threw the hatchet at Robin's direction!
Robin saw the hatchet spinning at his direction but he couldn't move. Why? Robin couldn't explain it .Was it from fear or confidence that the hatchet will miss him. Robin stared at the hatchet, blinked his eyes one more time then...Clank! The deafening sound echoed through out the cave like a bullet through the skull.
IOI
The hatchet missed Robin by inches! Inches! The hatchet was attached to the cave wall just above his left shoulder. Robin stood there for a minute looking dumbly at the air in front of him. Then he dare turned his back on the hooded boy, hoping he had no other weapons at hand,He stared at the hatchet which was throw with such force that it was deeply attached to the cave wall. Marian who had her head down,shaking from head to toe,not knowing what to do began picking up her books and the pouch that contained her food.
She had already collected the two books that Herdreth had given to her and the pouch full of food. Her favorite book was on the cave floor, just beside her captor, still standing there and staring at the hatchet she had thrown.
"My acquaintance would want it back good sir". Marian said her voice strong but had slightly cracked when she had said good sir an adjective the boy was definitely not. Marian was no fool, she still used her attacker's voice. Robin turned to the hooded boy who was now beside him, bending down to retrieve the book he had thrown at him. Without hesitation, Robin pulled back the hooded boy's hood.
Marian looked up as her sweaty caramel hair brushed to her face as the hood was pulled back. Robin didn't know what to do. He was too surprised to find out that a weak peasant girl had almost killed him and that he in his mind cursed at a girl!. Marian pretended nothing happened, she stood up and placed the book to her chest with one hand while pulling on the hatchet on the other. At first Robin just stared at her in awe, she looked... pretty. With her hazel brown eyes and wavy hair, she looked exotic. Then Robin tried helping her pull the hatchet off the wall, All Robin got from his offer was a look full of hatred and disgust but the enchanted Robin helped anyway.
Marian and Robin took turns pulling on the hatchet's handle since there was only room for one pair of hands. "This isn't working" Robin said after one hard pull of the hatchet's handle.
"Your telling me" Marian said in her own voice. Robin stared at Marian with a questioning look on his face. Marian looked back at him and shouted, "What!" clearly annoyed. Robin's look lasted for another second or two before he replied "It's nothing I was just wondering if you were using your real voice"
"By the way I am..." Robin's voice trailed off, considered the thought of sharing his name to a stranger, and after all this girl was a peasant, if she knew he was an earl's son she would either be troubled in constant bowing and politeness or run off to tell her folks that she had met a rich noble's son in the forest then her relatives could come and hold him for ransom, but why wait, he thought, this girl almost killed me!
Marian noticed the boy's voice trail off. Your -name -is-? Marian asked slowly just to annoy the boy. She was no longer afraid of him now that he knew she was a lady. Not one male, boy or man would strike a lady unless of course if they were outlaws, drunks or simply have their reasons, which they would definitely do. Marian knew this boy was no outlaw, he was too kind and his features shown it all. The dimpled cheeks and gentle visage supported Marian's assumption.
Robin faced the peasant girl. Robin looked at her creamy brown eyes which somehow touched his soul into believing that the girl was no murderer and nor would she hold a noble for ransom. Still Robin took precautions.
"Little miss please forgive my rude behavior" Robin said in a gentle voice. Marian knew that this boy was kind but that didn't mean that she was going to forgive herself for almost killing him. "What are you doing!" Marian yelled angrily at the boy. Robin shocked by Marian's sudden outburst replied with a puzzled tone on his voice, "I am apologizing am I not?"
Marian's frowned only grow deeper,this made Robin confused. "Why exactly are you apologizing and helping me! I almost killed you! Almost ended your life for crying out loud! And you were such a fool not to move when I threw the hatchet!" Robin was bewildered, this girl was unlike any other girls. The peasant maids in his castle were very forgiving and gentle, even the girls at the market place were kind and shy to all of their customers.
"This girl was ... different. I'm really sorry it is my fault I didn't move when I saw you throw the hatchet, I almost killed myself." he tried again
Marian forced herself to see it that way. "Why didn't you move! I missed you by inches! INCHES!" Marian yelled her voice full of rage. Robin stayed calm and thought about it for a while. Why hadn't he moved? Why? Then the answer came to him like rain would come to the desert, refreshing the plants and reliving the hot sand.
"I trusted you", came the answer.
"Pardon?" Marian asked, confused by his answer.
"I said I trusted you" Robin said again in a casual voice as if it were normal for anyone to trust a complete stranger. Marian became enraged by Robin's answer.
"What do you mean you trusted me? Did you already know I was a girl and trust that I wouldn't even come close to murdering a child in cold blood?!"
Robin stared at Marian for a while , then began to laugh at the thought of a girl being the death of him.
"No of course not" Robin wasn't really lying He was half lying. Marian could tell by his eyes that he was not honest nor sincere.
Getting up, Marian collected her belongings before she started for the cave entrance. Hatchet or not, she was getting away from this foolish boy who said he trusted her. She! a complete stranger! Men really did look down on women like Herdeth said! But I think Herdreth missed something else. Men were also too trusting of women, almost to the extent of stupidity Marian thought. Robin stopped laughing and ran to Marain's side. Marian simply ignored him. "Aren't you going to need your hatchet?"
Marian didn't answer. Robin tried again "Com'on i'll help you pull it out, i'll even try harder this time" Marian still didn't acknowldege his presence.
Robin had enough with the ignoring and lifted Marian in his arms. For a nine year old he had a lot of time running around the forest and at the same time, eventually building some muscle. "LET ME DOWN!" Marian screamed. Robin didn't listen. Marian kicked and screamed, making it harder for Robin to carry her to the giant oak tree. Robin then finally settled Marian down on one of the large roots. "RUDE, ANNOYING, LITTLE URCHIN!" Was Marian's reply to the smirk Robin gave her.
"Look I just want to sincerely apologize and help you get your hatchet back" Robin looked guilty as he spoke.
"I am really sorry I scared you back at the cave I didn't know who you were and so I wanted to make sure you didn't have any weapons"
Marian didn't want him to think it was all his fault after all it was her who elbowed him in the cheek, threw the a heavy book at him, and well lets see... Oh yes, nearly ended his life.
And yet he wanted to apologize for his wrong doing of scaring her. Marian measured it all in her head. Her faults were heavier.
"Alright"Marian said defeated. "You can help me retrive my hatchet later, I'm a tad hungry".
Robin reached into his pouch and got his last apple, extending the apple in Marina's direction yet refusing to meet her eyes. This was the least he could do for scaring the girl into almost killing him. Marian saw his pouch was all empty of food. That must be his last apple.
"No its fine" Marian didn't want her dept to him to go deeper, besides she had food good for two meals. Robin withdrew his extended hand. "Are you sure you don't want it?" he asked
"Yes im sure" Marian replied while digging in her own pouch until she found her breakfast bundled in silk. By the time she looked up at Robin who was leaning against a root, all that was left of his apple were the seeds. Was he that hungry? Marian stared at her breakfast. There were three boiled chicken eggs, five strips of bacon and large piece of fish. Marian rebundled her breakfast. She could give this to the boy then she could have her lunch. These eggs that Herdreth had packed which probably were rotten, just to get back at me.
Herdreth must have tampered with the rest of my food as well, Marian thought. Marian knew for sure that the eggs weren't rotten, neither were the rest of her food otherwise she would have noticed and dumped them as soon as she saw them, she only wanted to make an excuse to give it to the boy.
"Hey"! Marian called out to the boy. She held out the bundle holding her breakfast in his direction but didn't look at him. Robin stared at the bundle. He could almost taste the food inside. All he had eaten today were two small apples including the one he just ate. It probably isn't much, Robin thought, considering that the girl was a peasant. "It's fine I'm not really starving", Robin replied. Another lie.
Marian then glanced at his direction looking at him in the eye.
"You lie", Marian said in a hushed voice. Robin couldn't help it his surprise shown all ove his face. Marian got off the oak root, took Robin's hands and there she laid the bundle, then she walked towards the trunk of the tree. Robin kept his head down, he was blushing. Marian yelled at Robin." Hey! Don't just stand there in the heat!". At this Robin lifted his face, he saw Marian motioning for him to sit beside her near the tree's trunk, under the shade.
They both sat there in silence for minutes. "Well?" Marian asked breaking the silence. "Huh?" was Robin's dumb reply. "Are you going to eat it now or not? Because I really need the cloth back afterwards" Marian clarified. Robin stared at the cloth that held the food then noticed for the first time that it was rose pink silk. Only rich aristocrats and nobles could afford silk and they were definitely the only people who used silk to wrap their food. "Where did you get this silk"? was Robin's reply. Marian frowned at him. "I'll answer that after we eat".
They didn't eat silently. Robin couldn't help but ask questions."Where are you from"? Robin asked as he tried to untie the bundle. Instead of answering Marian caught Robin's hand. Robin blushed a deep red." You don't do it like that". Robin felt her breath on his right cheek. What was wrong with him today, not being able to shoot a bird and now feeling like this! This was not like him at all. He used to come home with seven pigeons and three hawks and Robin never had felt this way about a girl before.
"There!" Marian declared. Robin looked at the meal in front of him. Three boiled chicken eggs, five strips of bacon and a large piece of fish. This was no peasant's meal. Robin stared at Marian then at the meal before him then he asked the question that has been bugging him since he saw her. "Who are you?" Robin asked.
Marian pretended to be busily trying to untie her bundle so she could ignore Robin's question. This time it was Robin's turn to help. He had observed from Marian how to untie the bundle and began to lean closer to Marian. Marain felt her heart skip a beat, his cheek was nanometers away from hers.
"What are you doing?" Marian asked as Robin took the bundle from her. "You don't do it like that" Robin says with a knowing smile.
"So tell me, who are you?" Robin asks again while he untied the bundle. Marian didn't reply, she couldn't tell a complete stranger. Robin who had successfully untied the bundle stared into Marian's hazle eyes. Marian quickly averted from Robin's stare, fearing that she might be tempted to answer."Fair enough" Robin said handing her back the bundle. "Lets start small then, like why you brought two lunches, can you see the future and saw my handsome face, hungry and grime covered?" Marian chuckled at this. Robin felt relieved that he hadn't upset the girl with his past question.
"No, I most certainly can not read the future" Marian replied.
"Then how do you explain the two lunches?" Robin said raising an eyebrow for sarcastic emphasis. Marian laughed harder at Robin's contorted face. When she had settled down she then explained about sleeping through breakfast. And she eventually revealed her status as a noble's daughter. Robin laughed at her "I don't believe you"
Marian didn't bother to argue. Hey I told him it was his choice not to believe me. "My name is Marian"
"My name is Robin" he replied with a smile.
"Judging from your clothes Robin I believe you are a peasant" Marian said quit cockily, while eating her lunch.
"Well I can say the same for you Lady Marian" Robin said mockingly with a large bomb of pride, he was convinced that this was no noble's daughter. Marian was not polite, friendly and dressed as a noble should. And besides what noble's daughter would come to the woods where outlaws lurked left and right. The only thing that bothered Robin was the silk and the food. No peasant afforded this much food and if they could they would surely try to conserve it to last them for about a week or so.
IOI
Marian's mid day meal was made up of two drum rolls of chicken, a peach and half a loaf of bread. Marian and Robin continued eating in silence. Robin felt uncomfortable with the silence.
"So any way Marian how did you know about this place?" Robin asked desperate to end the silence.
"Thats what i've been meaning to ask you" was Marian's reply. "Well I found this place while me and one of my friends ran into a group of outlaws" Then Robin went on to describe the exciting escape from a bunch of low lives. Marian's face was full of anticipation when she heard the word "outlaws" Marian listened with such scholar eagerness that she decided not to finish her mid day meal and instead had given her full attention to Robin.
"And thats how Will and I found this place" Robin finally concluded his story of discovering the clearing. "And you Marian, how did you find out about this place?" Robin asked while taking the shells off an egg, the only thing left of his meal. Marian wished she had a an exciting story about how she found the cave but she didn't. Robin looked at her with anticipation. "Well I snuck out of our castle two years ago, found the water fall I wanted to get a drink and noticed that at one side it curved. I inspected the side of the falls and found the cave... TA DA!" Marian added just to increase the lack of luster in her story.
Robin giggled, his blue eyes twinkling. Marian's back faced Robin, she was pretending to pack up her remaining meal just so Robin won't see her smile at her own boring story. Then Robin's laugh faded but Marian didn't notice, when she did it was too late. Marian looked up and stared at merry blue eyes. "Your a clever girl huh?" Robin asked smiling. Marian still hypnotized by Robin's eyes, just stared at him. Robin sat down in front of Marian "May I?" Robin asked motioning to the books. Marian quickly snapped out of her trance and nodded.
Robin flipped at the first book and read its title"Swords and Swordsmanship" then he looked at the second book "Knives and Daggers"he didn't bother flipping to those pages and he looked at the title of the third book, his eyes lingering longer as if wanting to open the book but couldn't. Robin looked up at Marian with questioning eyes. The more Robin didn't belive this girl was a noble's daughter nor was she an ordinary girl.
"Why do you have these books and why these topics?" Robin asked. Marian had second thoughts of telling her newly found companion. He knows who I am and might reveal this to my father in exchange for food or money, afterall he is a peasant. Marian then made a point to herself that Robin didn't belive who she was. Marian finally made a decision.
"I know how to read and write and I am not in shame about it" Marian said chin held up high. Robin looked at Marian, surprise shown on his face. Robin had seen the books earlier, and even got one thrown to his face, but he assumed that Marian was a boy and didn't bother thinking about the books. Robin have never heard of a girl who could both read and write, nor had he ever met one who would trade embroidery for knowledge, A needle for a sword, dresses for a boy's garments like Marian would.
Robin then overcame his surprise. "So you can read, but why would a girl want to read these books?" he added frowning.
Marian smiled at Robin for the first time then she replied, "I want to equalmen. I want to learn how to protect myself at least" Then Marian got up leaving a smiling Robin. I respect her, Robin thought for he had never known a girl who would willingly want to learn the ways of the men, breaking away from the norm of society.
The sun was no longer giving off its stinging heat. "Come on I would be needed back home in an hour" Marian said as she extended a hand to Robin. Robin nodded and accepted the hand. Together they walked towards the cave. When they reached the spot where the hatchet was stuck to the wall, they began pulling one at a time with renewed strength. After some time, Robin leaned exhausted, on the cave wall across the wall with the hatchet while he waited for his turn pull. Marian gave one hard tug at the weapon's handle. She was just about to tell Robin it was his turn, when an idea came to her. "Robin"
Robin's name echoed through the cave. Robin was surprised at how well his name suited with her voice. Robin saw Marian motioning for him so he got up and walked towards her. "What is it?"
Marian grabbed hold of the hatchet's handle, then she said in a casual voice "Robin hold on to my waist"
Robin looked at Marian's waist , blushing all the while for his father had already educated him on the way infants came to be born into this world.
"What are you planning on doing?" he asked embarrassed.
"You'll see just hold on to my waist and pull as hard as you can when I tell you to" Marian said looking back at her friend and noticing that Robin was blushing. "Oh don't be a sissy now!" she said teasingly. At this Robin grabbed hold at Marian's waist, he hated to be thought of as a sissy. As soon as Robin held Marian's waist he blushed scarlet terribly. No matter Marian thought as she then positioned her hands on the hatchet's handle. "Ready Robin?"Marian called out. Robin managed a small "ready".
"PULL!" Marian shouted. She could feel the hatchet loosen from the cave wall but not enough to completely remove the blade. The duo did this again three times and on the third try, the hatchet gave away, finally free from the cave wall. Robin fell on the cave floor and as Marian fell on top of him he didn't blush or care. I think I got used to this, besides why was I blushing she is a stranger after all ,Robin thought exhausausted. Marian got up enabling Robin to stand. "Finally!" Marian shouted, victorious as she glanced at the open sky of the clearing.
IOI
The sky was orange.
The sun is setting! No one knew how long they were at the cave, pulling at that forsaken miniature ax.
"Look I-I need to be home soon for supper" Marian stammered while running to the clearing and back with her belongings. Robin stayed put not knowing what to do. "Well can I walk with you out of the forest at least?" Robin asked.
"Fine" Marian agreed in a rush. The two got out of the cave and was swiftly on their way out of the forest.
"We have a lot of time left and we are near the road so we can slow down" Robin declared in pants.
"I won't be heading for the road, There is a dead oak tree a mile north from here you are to leave me there" Marian clarified.
"You know your way around here huh" Robin asked looking at her again hooded head.
"Yes I do."
"You should really wear green or brown around here" Robin said pulling on his own shirt "It makes you blend in" he suggested.
"I'll do that. Next time" Marian turned to Robin.
"Say, was that broken arrow I saw earlier yours?" Marian asked curiously.
The one by the forest entrance, I believe so, that arrow was mine" Robin said looking straight ahead.
"Well you must have been really frustrated for not hitting a thing" Marian noted with sympathy in her tone that every man learned to detest.
Robin stopped walking and turned to Marian who had also stopped. "How did you know?" he asked. Marian began to laugh. So he didn't know! Poor fella, Marian thought. "Those arrows were not really balanced" she replied and started walking again, Robin followed. "What do you mean not balanced those arrows were a good quality bunch" Marian stared into Robin's eyes then asked, "And where did a boy like you get the money to buy quality arrows, Robin?" The boy was taken aback ,he would have to reveal his status to her. Robin thought for a second then replied, "My father is a wood cutter and he trades some wood for high quality arrows just for me" Marian claimed herself a noble's daughter so I will play along and be a wood cutter's son, Robin thought.
Marian looked into Robin's eyes or at least where his eyes should be. The sky was getting darker by the second. She saw the dead oak ahead and beyond that the lights of the Fritzwalter Castle.
Marian turned to Robin. "I need to go. This instant!" she practically shouted.
"Will I see you tomorrow at my hideout?" Robin asked. Marian frowned but she doubt that Robin saw it.
"Don't call it yours! I found the place first!" Marian hissed.
"Okay, okay how about our hideout" Robin tried. "Tolerable" Marian smiled.
"Farwell!" Marian shouted while she ran towards the castle. "Wait!" Robin yelled and ran after her "I need something of your" Marian looked at his shadow with a puzzled look. When Marian didn't answer, Robin explained.
"To prove you'll come back" Marian would have asked Robin why he wanted her back but there was only a few minutes before dinner and if she wasn't there, she wouldn't ever be able to go back to the forest at all! Marian squinted at one of the books she held but couldn't see anything.
"Here just take this damned book but take good care of it! I might be back tomorrow at noon" Then Marian ran off to the night, leaving Robin with what she thought was one of Herdreth's books. When Marian was halfway to the castle she heard a soft farewell echoing off hollow trunks, and jagged stone hedges of the forest...
Marian climbed the brick wall near one of her windows. Some bricks were designed to stick out so it was an easy climb. When Marian got into her window the first thing she saw was her fanciest gown laid neatly on her bed. On her sewing table was Herdreth looking at her from head to toe then pointed to the small tub at one corner of the room. Marian didn't ask any questions and hid her books under her mattress, instantly noticing that the book she had given Robin was her favorite book "The Art of Archery". Marian didn't care, she was going to get it back tomorrow any way. Marian undressed, gave her peasant clothes and pouch to Herdreth then went into the tub. Herdreth called on a maid to bring in the water.
"Herdreth what is the occasion?" Marian asked with no enthusiasm.
"Marian, the Sheriff of Nottingham is paying a visit, he comes to have a simple negotiation with your father" Herdreth winked at me and continued, "Guy his nephew is with him as well" Marian smiled at the name. Guy was starved for adventure as she was. The two both hated balls and dances all the same. Guy even loathes his Governor, Eric as she did Herdreth. The young noble once hated the Sheriff's nephew long ago, when she held him accountable for his uncle's maldoings.
IOI
~Marian~
I finished my bath and the maid asked no questions about how I have gotten so dirty by embroidering all day. When the maid was gone Herdreth told me that the rest of the castle was informed that I was out horseback riding and that I better act like I have been.
"Umm, Herdreth I dare ask are you wearing your-"
Herdreth smile and lifted her skirts revealing her hidden weapons, "Yes dear I am"
There finish! This was a very long chapter full of excitment and I my self was really excited when I got my first review! thankyou sooo much! But PLEASE according to my Traffic a lot of people are viewing this but are just killing me for not reviewing!
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